Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Sarah K. Crocker. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dr. Sarah K., looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

At the end of the day, my answer to this question is always “YES,” but the thought of what it would be like to have a “normal” job with a regular schedule is a question I have pondered more times than I can count.

As with a career in any field, questions of pivoting to something different arise when I am experiencing the challenging aspects of my job. Even recently, I have been brainstorming new business approaches for summertime. It can be hard to make it through this season financially because performances slow down considerably, universities are on a break, and harp students are traveling and not as available for lessons. But I find the question most often pops up in the very difficult moments – making a 5-hour drive while extremely ill and still having to be focused and engaging enough to perform a demanding recital, wrangling my 85-pound harp down a grassy and rocky hill while sweating in an evening gown to play an outdoor wedding ceremony, or having to miss a special event or vacation because you committed to a performance months prior. In these moments, I wonder “what would it be like to leave your work at the office everyday at 5pm and actually have a real weekend?”

My answer is always the same: it would probably be nice for a short time, but I know I would become restless and bored without an outlet for my creative energy. I often speak with family and friends about the struggle to find a good work-life balance while in the same breath proposing an idea for a new intricate, time-consuming musical project. Ultimately, I am at my happiest when I choose to embrace this dichotomy and focus as much as possible on the numerous rewarding parts of being a professional musician and a small business owner.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was born and raised in Franklin, TN and began taking harp lessons when I was 7 years old. I heard a harpist perform at my church at age 6 and fell in love with the sound, telling my mother, “It just does something to my soul.” I developed a love for performing as well as teaching harp at a young age; I started teaching lessons in 9th grade.

I studied harp throughout college and graduate school, and have a B.M., M.M., and D.M.A. in Harp Performance with Musicology cognate from The University of Alabama. Having loved growing up here, I always wanted to end up back in Franklin and upon completion of my doctorate in 2013, I was able to move back and settle here. I began teaching a few private harp students and music courses at MTSU in Fall 2013 and performing for symphony orchestras, churches, weddings, and events.

After a few years, my performance career and teaching studio had grown substantially, but I also started noticing how many inquiries about harp services I began receiving: questions about how to sell or buy a harp, how to restring or regulate a harp, harp appraisals and rentals, etc. On January 1, 2017, I founded Hillnote Music to fill this niche market. My business has three divisions: the Hillnote Harp Academy, Hillnote Weddings and Events, and Hillnote Harps.

Over the last seven years, Hillnote Music has grown tremendously thanks to wonderful students and customers. I am fortunate to teach private lessons to 25-30 students per semester ranging in age from 5 to 65, perform and curate customized music for about 50+ events and ensembles per year, and provide a range of harp services: consigned harp sales, harp rental and appraisal, harp restringing and minor repair, lever harp regulations, harp transportation, and more! As of 2024, I have sold almost 40 consigned harps and rented, appraised, and serviced countless others.

I am also honored to teach as Adjunct Professor of Harp at Belmont University since 2020, Lipscomb University since 2016, as well as maintaining my position at MTSU since 2013 and beginning a position as Visiting Adjunct Professor of Harp at Sewanee-The University of the South this fall.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

The easy answer to this question is to buy tickets to concerts, go to the ballet, buy artwork, etc. – support artists any way you can financially.

My other answer is: Do not be afraid to get outside of your box and try something new! There are tons of ways to support creatives for free while also finding what truly interests you. Never been to a live jazz, world music, or classical music concert before? All universities offer dozens upon dozens of free concerts every school year! Students and faculty are always thrilled to play for a large audience, and if you discover a love for a certain type of music, you can invest in season tickets to your local symphony orchestra or attend a concert a jazz club in the city.

Word-of-mouth and exposure are still the primary ways artists are able to make a living as we often do not have the funds to devote to marketing. The community can easily help out with free advertising. Did you hear a musician you enjoyed or see artwork you love at a gallery? Share their work on social media or with your friends and family. The majority of my work still comes from people who have seen me perform recommending me to other people. This service is invaluable to any artist!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being a professional harpist and teacher provides a unique opportunity to be a part of people’s lives during their most important moments and a part of students’ lives for years as they grow. Not many jobs offer that level of personal relationship with your clients and students. I have been truly blessed to perform for people during their happiest moments and provide musical comfort during their most difficult times: wedding ceremonies, graduations, baby showers, funeral services and memorials, families with a loved one in hospice, church services, and many more special occasions. I have seen students grow from a shy seven-year-old to a confident college graduate. I would not trade these experiences for any other career!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hillnotemusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harpsandhounds/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahkcrockerharp & https://www.facebook.com/hillnotemusic/

Image Credits

Hillnote Music, Dawn Wallace – Daybreak Photo Co., Nathan Zucker, and North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra